Taiwan - Week 47 - June 30 - It's Been A Year!!!

Family!!

Happy Fourth of July!! Can you believe it's been a year this week since I entered the MTC?? I most surely can't!! What a blessed year! It has been absolutely incredible...........more than I could have even imagined! From the hardest times, to the moments of exceedingly great joy- I can say I have loved it all.....sometimes I still don't understand why everything happened, but I know it was all for a reason :) As I've been pondering of my mission this week, I have come to realize that this isn't IT- like the best part, but in actuality it's just going to get better from here- life after the mission, future fam, job, callings......the best is yet to come! So my dearest little bros Z& J.....get excited.......the best is yet to come!

Ok this email is going to be a little different this week because I just need to sing and express my feelings!! This week I began chuaning the jiao with my new companion and fellow Sister Zone Leader Sister Belnap.........o my heavens, I can't even begin to express in words how incredible she is!! I have not felt so much power in teaching, contacting, or serving for a long time! You know how sometimes you don't know what you're missing until it suddenly appears in front of you? That is Sister Belnap in a nut-shell.........from her I am learning all of the little pieces of the Sister Jarvis missionary puzzle that I still needed! I most indefinitely feel that I have been living and serving under my potential for the last couple of months.......I didn't realize it before, but now I do!! It took a teary-eyed dinner at SUBWAY with both of us expressing our feelings to the other of our first four days together.  We realize how we have no feather of a doubt that Heavenly Father has placed us together because I needed her and she needed me.........words can seriously not express the feelings I have felt this week!! My mission here on out will be changed forever! She is one of the most powerful missionaries I have ever been with and I am truly learning how to be a very sharpened tool in the Lord's hands and live up to my full potential as a missionary and a daughter of God!!

So next up!! Miracles!!! Little YJM is getting baptized this Saturday and it is an absolute miracle!!! She wants to be baptized so bad and she was able to participate in the youth activity this weekend which was so great- the ward has already taken her under their wing! I am still astounded by her faith and desire to learn.......we had to teach like 5 commandments in one lesson on Saturday and I felt so bad because I felt I was just throwing them at her......but every time she said she was absolutely willing to follow them! It was cool because she actually has to deal with a lot of bad things at her school, so the Law of Chastity actually meant a lot to her.......I sometimes forget how crazy it is out there and how important these commandments are for every age. She is so special, we met her a month ago, and now she is going to make an eternal covenant with God :)

Also!!! We have duan chuan (short term missionary) this week!!! She is a 17 year old girl from a near-by city and she is going to chuan the jiao (be a missionary) with us this week!! She is ADORABLE! Only been a member for just over a year and she will teach and preach with us all week! It's like having a baby- but a super grown-up one ;) ALSO- we are going to teach line dancing at our pioneer activity and we want to starta Zumba class for the sisters! I am so excited!!

Faith, Faith, Faith! You should read PMG. Ch. 6 on Faith- Faith is incredible. I've found that I have really been lacking it recently, but with my super awesome companion who truly has the gift of faith, I have seen this area change and it's amazing! The |Savior didn't have once ounce of doubt in his soul, so neither should we :) (something I'm still learning!) Let's all go get some faith this week!

Love ya!!!

Sister J.

The Threesome

Their three cozy beds

Taiwan - Week 46 - June 24 - Part 2!

Apparently we somehow didn't receive Sister Jarvis' full letter last week.  Here it is.......

My dearest, darlingest Fam!

Wow, so many changes in the last day or so that I am forgetting what happened this week!! So I am still in my beloved Zhang hua with a new companion, Sister Belnap, just two tall blondes who are going to take on the world together! This is her last move-call so I will probably be in Zhang hua for a long time :)......that's good, because there is lots of work to do!......and with some new Zone Sister responsibilities with the new mission-president it should be a new and exciting experience! Ah! New Mission President this week- so crazy!! Also we have 33 missionaries coming on next move-call!! The Work of Salvation is truly moving forward!!

O my lanta pantsies.......I didn't even tell you the coolest and most miraculous news of all!! Sister Shultz moved.........to TAINAN!!! To my very first ward!!!!!! She will be with Nitti and all of those wonderful Tainan members!!! We screamed for a good 30 seconds when we found out......it's miraculous to me. She will be in the exact same place I was a year ago........Heavenly Father's plan is so incredible!!! I am so excited for her and all of the miracles she will see there!!

So I'm really blanking on everything that happened this week because of all the exciting commotion in the last few days...........amazing miracle about being instruments in the Lord's hands: Sister Shultz and I met with ZJM on Monday night who is an adorable 17 year old investigator of 4 years but hasn't been baptized yet because her mom hasn't agreed for her to be baptized yet. She shared with us on Monday how she still didn't feel like she was prepared or ready, still a little scared, and then my dear sweet companion- using all the Chinese in her, shared a story of her personal experience before her mission. She shared how she had started to feel scared and had some doubts before she left, but remembered her impression of knowing it was right. After she finished ZJM looked at her and said "Thank you" with the biggest smile :) She said she had heard many missionaries' experiences, but when Sister Shultz was telling her story she felt that she wanted to be baptized a 100%. It was a very precious moment to see my companion be an absolute tool of the Savior to change the heart of our investigator. ZJM had her xi li mian tan this Sunday and now it is miracle time for her mom :) YJM is also still working toward her goal and we just want to help her keep having powerful personal experiences with praying and reading the BOM.......hoping to help more investigators set goals this week as well!

We have also been struggling with getting some of our RCs to church......but through the ward's help yesterday, 3 of them came and it was fantastic!

To end with a scripture: I read of Samuel the Lamanite this week- what courage and faith he had. I loved verses 3 and 4 of Helaman 13: "But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.............therefore he went.........and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart." I love these verses! Sometimes we don't know what to say or how to do something.........but when we trust in the Lord and His Spirit we will be blessed with might, faith, and the words and feelings will be put into our heart! I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!

Keep the faith.

Sister J. :)

Taiwan - Week 45 - June 24 - Zone Sister Training Leader

Sister Jarvis received one of the new missionary assignments this week.  She didn't have much time to write, but sent a few notes about her exciting changes.

Hey FAM and Friends...........a shout out!!! This Gospel is AMAZIN!!!!! Learn it, live it, love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whelp! I'm still in Zhanghua, which I am excited about because I love it here and I feel that there is so much work to still do!! BUT the suprise is that I have a new companion, Sister Belnap, who is absolutely amazing and goes home at the end of this move-call, AND they are making us Zone Sister Training Leaders! (which is like a Sister Zone Leader over 7 companionships) I definitely don't feel like I fully fit those responsibilities yet, but I am so excited to serve and help my fellow Sisters!! It's going to be awesome--it's kindof cool to have a whole new responsibility and I know I will learn SO much from my companion and the other sisters this move-call :)

I will be living in the same place, but Sister Belnap is brand new to Zhang hua. She is tall, blonde and has lived all over.........Sweden, China, and her family lives in Georgia right now. Her Chinese is absolutely incredible!!

We went to an oyster farm last week. (see picture below) We have also had a hilarious tri-companionship of the last three days. We were with Sister Wu from the other ward and she is the most hilarious taiwan sister I have ever met........we laughed so hard yesterday it hurt! Haven't seen the missionary worldwide training broadcast yet, but saw it was online.........so cool! Sounds like our new President will bring some changes with him!! Mission time is going crazy fast!!!! ahhh- but it's so great!!

Love you all so much!!

Jumping at the Oyster Farm!

Taiwan - Week 44 - June 16 - And The Life Of A Trainer Comes To An End.....

Hi Familia!

Last week of the move-call and training with Sister Schultz.........has it really been 3 months?? I can't believe it!! My baby's all grown up.....so proud of her! I hope you all had a super, duper wonderful week.....everybody growing up and all :) So excited to hear about all the mission calls too!!

Momma- remember those li zhi (li qi) fruits that we had in China a lot? Little small balls that you peel and then have a clear skin, kind of sweet? Well they are in season here and we officially have three HUGE bags full in our fridge and we don't know what to do with them! Table bowling? :) They are only in season for 2 months so bless these members' hearts.....they just want to make sure we get a chance to eat them :D AND it is also grape season which has also led us to accumulate about 12 bunches of grapes in our fridge as well! They are delicious though! We visited a member family last night and on their open roof they have a patio with TONS of beautiful grape vines and he picked them right off- super cool! Taiwan= absolutely delicious fruit, and lots of it!

Funny story: Young boy tried to run up and kiss my hand while I was contacting a lady at an intersection........o the things that happen in contacting :)

Miracle: Little 11 year old YJM is incredible! Truly one of the greatest blessings I have experienced on my mission :) After inviting her to be baptized last week, we visited her on Thursday with the Primary President and taught the Restoration. She doesn't say much sometimes, but she asks great questions :) And whenever we would say the word happy or Heavenly Father she would just beam with the biggest smile :D She is so precious....at the end of the lesson we asked he if she believed these things were true. She said she didn't before, but she does now :) We invited her to pray to help her know for herself and she has been reading the B of M as well. She already asked her dad is she could get baptized and he said she could!!! She came to church again this Sunday and brought her 13 year old brother too! He didn't seem to happy to be there at first, but he seemed to like it more towards the end :) Sister Schultz and I are utterly so grateful to Heavenly Father for this enormous blessing.....her life will be changed forever and we are so excited for her. Keep her in your prayers, as well as her family, so that they all might be able to feel and partake of these blessings :)

This week I would love to share what I have learned and experienced with the whisperings and power of the Spirit! It all starts in Helaman 5:30 when Nephi and Lehi are in prison and earth is shaking around them, yet there is a "voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and did pierce even to the very soul"......real life experience: As we were teaching YJM at her house this week, her younger brother turned up some pretty loud American music in the middle of the lesson. In my mind I'm thinking, "O man Satan, it's not happening this time!" :) We kept going, kept teaching.....it was distracting to us but it didn't seem to phase YJM at all, we asked him to turn it down a little and he did but it was still there.........we kept teaching and praying in my heart that we could fight this temptation.......and I can testify that the Spirit is more powerful than anything else!!! YJM was touched by the Spirit and she felt it, music or not! It was so amazing to see the power in the small whisperings of the Spirit, pierce her soul :) I have really come to understand what these small whisperings are like, and I know that as we pray and seek to hear them, Heavenly Father will send His Spirit to us and it is powerful :) O! You can also read 3 Nephi 11 when Christ comes too about the Spirit- so good!

Again I say....the members, the members, the members! We can't do this work without them! Every member plays such a pivotal role and missionary work takes off when the missionaries are doing it with the members! So thanks for supporting the missionaries in Kaysville!! ALSO- thanks for having FHE every week, as well as fam prayer and scriptures- it has changed my life forever and it really has done so much for our family, more than I think we know!

Love you all millions!!!

Sister J.

Taiwan - Week 43 - June 9 - Goodbye to Pres and Sister Bishop, Struggles, and Eternal Families

Da jia hola!

Well another week has come and gone! Guess what? We saw President and Sister Bishop for the very last time this week! So crazy! We had an amazing Zone Conference in Taizhong with them and they were able to give their reflections and life advice :) It was soooooooooooooooooo good! President Bishop explained their whole process of finding out and becoming Mission Presidents and helped us prepare for the new transition of a new one. Sister Bishop in her last few words, talked about marriage and it's importance....not going to lie, us Sisters are all excited for that! :) O my heavens I love them so much but also really excited for our new mission president too! (heard they like to ballroom dance ;) )

Last week we went to Lu Gang and had a superbly fun time with the other sisters! It is a little old- historic town...see pics :) O funny story........we went and bought this candy that was supposed to be sour.........opened it up and inside were Warheads! Super funny :)

This week was simply, well, crazy :) It was a tough cookie sometimes! We learned a lot again this week about the importance of teaching people, not lessons. You have to know what they're feeling or thinking in order to know what to teach them. We're trying to help some dear sweet investigators whose baptismal goals dropped this week...........so I thought I would ask for your help and insight :) If you have any talks, scriptures, or experiences you feel that could help these sweet souls, let me know!

-Our 14 year old investigator is still dealing with grandma fan dui to her being baptized, she's super awesome but is scared to talk to her grandma about it, the Zone Leaders were inspired today in telling us to help her strengthen her testimony because nothing is more important than being baptized into the true and living church of God....and I think they're right!
- HJM: Most amazing Less-active ever!! Her faith in Heavenly Father and the Atonement is so strong..........every time we go to her hair shop I feel the Spirit so strongly.....and miracle: she came to Sacrament on Sunday!!! I love her so much and she is so incredible! She just feels that she has lots of temptations in her life and that the adversary's power is strong...........what has helped you overcome temptations in your life? Sister Schultz and I were able to share how the temple has helped us to overcome more temptations in our own lives- it was a super cool lesson :)

Miracle: Remember that little 11 year old I talked about last week? Well her dad brought her church yesterday and she really liked it.........the ward was so great to her and so accepted a baptismal goal! She is a miracle.........we invited her to read the B of M this week......she is the sweetest thing ever!

Young sisters update: They came to church and we didn't even know they were coming!! I sat by them in Sacrament and it may have been one of the happiest experiences of my life :) They brought their hymn book and B of Ms...........doodled pictures of missionaries and the podium.........had one of those eternal happiness moments....love them so much! O BTW.......one of them has passed both Sister Shultz and I in the B of M :)

Ending: Eternal Families is a very, very, real concept. We visited the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric's Dad with him this week. His Dad has been in a coma and was passing away..........it was such a beautiful experience though.  He kept bearing testimony to his brother (not member) that they would see him again as we all stood at his bedside. He has only been a member for about 3 years, but had absolutely no fear or worry..........just full of faith and spirit. I really felt the power of a righteous priesthood leader. We were able to sing and pray with their family in a kneeling prayer..........it was a very tender experience and I am so grateful again and again for this incredible, true PLAN for eternal families....because it is REAL. I am so grateful for my family.........for all of the little things of daily prayer to the big things of being in the temple together and know that we are eternally united to our grandparents, our siblings, and loved ones forever!! I love you all!!!

Sister J.

 By the biggest sandals ever

Companionship modeling!

 Pumping the water in the historic town of Lu gang

Bountiful Temple painted on a fan by a non-member

Taiwan - Week 42 - June 2 - Sweating, Earthquakes, and Another Amazing Week!

Taiwan had another 6.2 earthquake that shook the island, but once again, Sister Jarvis was in a Church building when it occurred and all was well :-)

hala ala, ala!! (Real Taiwanese words :) ) Happy June to all of you!!

Woweee what another amazing week!!! I'm just loving the work right now!!! It's the best thing ever!! Not saying it's easy, but it's amazing :) I absolutely love these people!

Some tips for the week.......you know you're a missionary in Taizhong when:

1) The continued sweat drops on your face become a distraction in the lesson as your investigator hands you tissues over and over again to wipe off :0
2) Practicing singing the EFY Song with the ward after church when Earthquake hits and room starts shaking and priesthood leaders are assuring everyone that the church building will not fall :)
3) Trying to say a prayer with a little A ma (grandma) outside her house who keeps talking during the prayer and asking where Heavenly Father is, "Is He in Zhang hua?" haha so funny :)

We watched the Restoration with the little girls this week........they thought Joseph Smith was handsome and was so sad when it was over.....they thought it was really special :)

HJM had her baptismal interview yesterday and is asking her mom again today for permission to be baptized! She has waited a long time so you can pray for her :)

Ward Miracle: A family in the 1st ward brought their co-worker and her two kids to church yesterday!! So cool! They are also friends with one of our investigators whose Mom has said she needed to wait a few more years to get baptized, but they invited her mom and brother to church and they came too! Members are amazing! We could not do this work without them! Another map miracle! We went to visit a LA couple and pulled up outside of their house. As soon as we finished praying, we looked up to see a young girl getting off her bike. We asked if this was their house and she said the DX was her uncle but they didn't live there anymore. She was really hesitant to talk to us at first, but we kept chatting and then showed her a picture of our church. She told us her uncle had taken her there before and she really liked it :) She came closer and closer to us and soon we were discussing prayer and she had so many amazing questions! She asked if Heavenly Father would answer her prayers about finding more friends and we shared a scripture with her that really touched her. We prayed and afterwards she said she felt something and knew He would answer them :) It was amazing.........truly one of the most special contacting situations I have ever had on my mission. She wants to bike with us to church next week and was so excited to pray....I know Heavenly Father sent us to her :)

I have truly learned so much from my Heavenly Father in these last few weeks. I feel that He is helping us soooo much, I know we could not do this work without Him. I feel that He is really teaching me personally how to chuan the jiao, and specifically how He wants us to do it here in Zhang hua :) It's been very special, very spiritual, and very amazing :) Yesterday I read Sister Dalton's talk from Conference....."What e'er thou art, act well they part" What a beautiful reminder of our potential. I am the first to say that I know I make so many mistakes and have so many ruo dians (faults) and there is no way I could be a missionary on my own.......BUT as we rely on the Lord and pray to our Heavenly Father earnestly and do the best we can.....He will bless us and help us immensely. This week I read about Captain Moroni, truly one of the greatest men who ever lived. His faith and dedication to liberty and freedom and to God is absolutely inspiring..........may we all press on and be Captain Moroni's in our own battlefields :) The Lord is with us always as long as we trust and turn to Him :) Love you all!!!

Sister J.